Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword for the Ministry of Education Strategic Plan
Book.

Let me begin by reiterating that the Ministry’s commitment is towards excellence. I see this as not only an aspiration; but also imperative in view of the current climate of rapid change and increasing competition in the education environment. Faced with the challenges to provide and maintain relevancy to the country’s manpower needs, the ministry requires a clear mission and to commit itself to pursuing that mission to fruition. The means to fulfill this mission are outlined as a Strategic Plan in this book.

The Strategic Plan is, by far, the most comprehensive and far-reaching plan ever prepared to meet the country’s need for educational change. It sets out a new course which clearly outlines our objectives and how these will be achieved by mapping out the plans that will drive us forward. It also recognises that eminence in the use and application of information technology, build more effective partnerships with other institutions as well as with industry and government.
 
The plan provides an aggressive and bold, yet thoughtful and measured vision for how education and the Ministry as a whole should develop to lead the country into the next millennium. In a sense, this book serves as a compass, guiding us in the direction towards increased national development and greater progress.
 
At the same time, the plan is also realistic in that it appreciates the need to balance centralisation in the development of some areas of teaching and learning, and information technology, with individual responsibility within the Ministry and academic groups.
 
Equally important is the need to upgrade tools and to capitalized through efficiency and cost effectiveness, the training and upgrading personnel skills which will allow the best possible practices and use of human resources in this strategic plan. The Strategic Plan, though critical, serves as a guide towards the achievement of the Ministry’s goal of excellence in education. Its effective utilisation relies on the commitment and support of the stakeholders concerned.
 
I would like to express my gratitude to the Strategic Planning Working Group and all those who were involved in the process of preparing the Strategic Plan for their dedication and hard work.

 
Wassalam.

HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN TAIB
[ Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela ]

MINISTER OF EDUCATION